Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41173887›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Surface mechanics and compressive stress impact mammalian follicle development.

Arikta Biswas, Yuting Lou, Boon Heng Ng, Kosei Tomida, Sukhada Darpe, Kim Whye Leong, Zihao Wu, Thong Beng Lu, Xiang Teng, Yusuke Toyama and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Mechanics of compression-driven morphogenesis.Development (Cambridge, England) · 2026
    Review
  2. Spatially Organized Human Ovarian Spheroids Instruct Endometrial Morphogenesis.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Arikta BiswasMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yuting LouMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Boon Heng NgMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Kosei TomidaMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5590-1497
Sukhada DarpeMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Kim Whye LeongMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Zihao WuMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Thong Beng LuElectron Microscopy Unit, Microscopy Core Facility Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Xiang TengMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yusuke ToyamaMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3230-1062
Isabelle BonneElectron Microscopy Unit, Microscopy Core Facility Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Chii Jou ChanMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. dbschii@nus.edu.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3177-3949

Funding

Ministry of Education - Singapore (MOE) T2EP30222-0026National Research Foundation Singapore (National Research Foundation-Prime Minister's office, Republic of Singapore) NRF-MSG-2023-0001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The maturation of functional eggs in ovaries is essential for successful reproduction in mammals. Despite its biological and clinical importance, the underlying mechanisms regulating folliculogenesis remain enigmatic. Here, using murine ovaries, we report that the theca cells surrounding secondary follicles play a critical role in regulating follicle development through mechanical signalling. Using biophysical approaches, we found that the contractile theca cells exert significant compressive stress to the follicular interior through active assembly of fibronectin. Manipulation of compressive stress by targeting theca cell contractility, basement membrane integrity or intrafollicular pressure leads to changes in follicle size and mechanics, granulosa cell YAP signalling and oocyte-granulosa cell communications. Transcriptomics and quantitative immunofluorescence reveal that compressive stress impacts functional follicle growth through regulating the balance between granulosa cell proliferation and death that drives tissue pressure homeostasis. Altogether, our study uncovers unique mechanical functions of theca cells and provides quantitative evidence of the role of compressive stress in regulating mammalian folliculogenesis.

Indexed as

Ovarian FollicleStress, MechanicalTheca CellsAnimalsBasement MembraneCell ProliferationFemaleFibronectinsGranulosa CellsMechanotransduction, CellularMiceMice, Inbred C57BLOocytesSignal TransductionFibronectins

Identifiers

PMID41173887
PMCPMC12579258

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.